St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-07
THE NATIONS NEEDS.
Continued From First Page.

crease in cost caused by tariff duty on
the manufacture. Thus in the end he
is aroused to the fact that he has paid
upon a moderate purchase as a result
of the tariff scheme, which. when he
sold his wool seemed so profitable, an
increase in price sufficient to sweep
away all the tariff profit he received
upon the wool he produced and sold.
When the number of farmers engaged
in wOOl-raiSing is compared with all the
farmers in the country, and the small
proportion they bear TO our population
is considered; when it is made apparent
that, in the case OF large part of those
who own sheep, the benefit of the pres
ent tariff on wool is illusory and, above
all, when it must be conceded that the
increase of the cost Of living caused by
such tariff
BECOMES A BURDEN
upon those with moderate means and
the poor, the employed and unemployed,
the sick and well, and the young and
old, and that it constitutes tax which,
with relentless grasp, is fastened upon
the clothing of every man, woman and
child in the land, reasons are suggested
why the removal or reduction of this
duty should be included in revision of
our tariff laws. In speaking of the in
creased cost to the consumer of our
home manufactures resulting from a
duty laid upon imported articles of the
same description, the fact is not over
looked that competition among our do
meStic producers sometimes has the
effect of keeping the price of their prod
uct below the highest limit allowed by
such duty. But it is notorious that this
competition is too often Strangled by
combinations quite prevalent at this
time, and frequently called trusts,
which have for their object the manipu-
latiOn of the supply and price of COM
mOditieS made and sold by members of
the combination. The people can
hardly hope for any consideration
in the operation of these selfish
schemes. Ii. however, in tn e absence
of such combination, healthy and free
competition reduces the price of any
particular dutiable article of home pro-
ductiOn below the limit which it might
otherwise reach under our tariff laws,
and if, with such reduced price, its man
ufacture continue to thrive, it is entirely
evident that one thing has been diScOv-
cred which should be carefully Scru-
tiniZed in an effort to reduce taxation.
The necessity of combination to main
tain the price of any commodity to the
tariff point, furnishes proof that some
one is willing to accept lower prices for
such commodity. and that such prices
are remuneratiye, and lower prices pro-
duced by competition prove the same
thing. Thus, where either of these
conditions exist, case would seem to
be presented for an easy reduction of
taxation.
THE CONSIDERATIONS
which have been presented touching
our tariff laws are intended only to en-
force an earnest recommendation that
the surplus revenues of the government
be prevented by the reduction of our
custom duties, and, at the same time, to
emphasize 4 suggestion that in accom-
pliShing this purpose we may discharge
double duty to our people by granting
to them measure of relief from tariff
taxation in quarters where 1t is most
needed and from sources where it can
be most fairly and justly accorded. Nor
can the presentation made of such con-
Siderations be, with any degree of fair
ness, regarded as evidence of unfriend-
illness toward our manufacturing inter-
eStS or of any lack of appreciation of
their value and Importance. These in
tereStS constitute leading and most
substantial element of our national
greatness and furnish the proud proof
of our cOuntry'S progress. But if i'll
the emergency that presses upon us our
manufacturers are asked to surrender
something for the public good and avert
disaster, their patriotism, as well as a
grateful recognition of advantages al
ready afforded, should lead them to
willing cooperation. No demand is
made that they shall foregO all the ben
efitS of governmental regard: but they
cannot fail to he admoniShed of their
duty, as well as their enlightened self
interest and safety. when they are re-
minded of the fact that financial panic
and collapse. to which the present con-
ditiOn tends, afford no greater shelter or
protection to our manufactures than to
other important enterprises. OppOr-
tunity for safe, careful and deliberate re-
form is now offered: and none of us
should be unmindful of time when an
abused and irritated people, needless of
those who have resisted timely and
reasonable relief, may insist upon a
radical and sweeping rectificatiOn of
their wrongs. The difficulty of attend
ing a wise and fair revision of our tariff
is not under estimated. 1t will require
on the part of the congress great labor
and care, and especially a broad and
rational contemplation of the subject
and a patriotic disregard of such local
and regardless of the welfare of the en-
tire country.
UNDER OUR PRESENT LAWS
more than 1900 articles are subject to
duty, Many of these do not iii any way
compete with our own manufactures
and many are hardly worth attention as
subjects of revenue. A considerable re-
duction can be made in the aggregate
by adding them to the free list. The
taxation of luXuries presents no fea-
lures of hardship: but the necessaries
of life, used and consumed by all the
people, the duty upon which adds to the
cost Of living i'll every home, should be
greatly cheapened. The radical reduc-
ton of the duties imposed upon raw
material used in manufactures or its
free importation is of course an import
ant factor in any effort to reduce the
price Of these neceSSarieS: it would not
only relieve them from the increased
cost caused by the tariff on such mate
rial, but the manufactured product
being thus cheapened, that part
of the tariff now laid upon such pro-
duet as compensation to our manufac-
turerS for the present price of raw mate
rial could be accordingly modified.
Such reduction, or free importation.
would serve beside to largely reduce the
revenue. 1t Is not apparent how such
change can have any injurious effect
upon our manufacturers. On the con-
trary, it would appear to give them
better chance in foreign markets with
the manufacturers of other countries,
who cheaper their wares .by free mate
rial. Thus our people might have the
opportunity of extending their sales be-
yOnd the limits of home consumption.
saving them from the depression, inter
ruption in business, and loss caused by
a glutted domestic market, and afford
ing their employees more certain and
steady labor, with its resulting quiet
and cOntentment.
The question thus imperatively pre-
scented for solution should be approached
in spirit higher than partisanship,